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Friday, March 30, 2018

STONE BY MAX MONROE-REVIEW TOUR

STONE Blurb:

First, hate. Then, want. But in the end? Heartbreak.

My celebrity life was supposed to be easy, and this movie was the biggest break of my career. But from the moment Officer Levi Fox gave me a speeding ticket on my way into town, he’s been nothing but a thorn in my side.

Dominant. Cocky. Callous.

Midnight blue eyes, a bad attitude, and muscles for days, he’s exactly the kind of man I should avoid.

But as the Cold, Montana Police Department’s official movie liaison, he’s taken up a permanent place in my life that I can’t shake.

We fight. A lot.

Then, we kiss—and my carefully crafted hate toward him no longer feels so much like hate.

I’m falling

falling

falling.

But how often do alpha-jerks cushion the landing?

Note: Levi and Ivy’s story will continue in Book Two—Cold.

I love Max Monroe. I have loved them from the first book I read from them. They are a one click writing duo for me-so naturally, when I saw Stone I knew I wanted to read it-and that was before I read the blurb. Reading the blurb though? Had me raising my eyebrows just a bit...because this didn't sound like any Max Monroe I've read before. I was absolutely right about that-and I loved it.

Love and hate are separated by a really thin line at times and that is expressed really well in this book. Enemies to lovers isn't my normal cup of tea, but it works in this story just beautifully. Levi doesn't like Ivy right from the get go. And my reaction to that would usually be oh come on, admit it, you like her. But there was more to this story and I liked seeing the WHY behind how these two felt.

I like the genuineness of Ivy. She really is interested in what happened and wants to portray things correctly. Levi, well...I'm used to falling hard for Max Monroe's heroes and I couldn't help but fall for Levi. Did I want to shake him? OMG yes. I really, really did. But because this is a trilogy, I'm still holding out hope for him.

If you haven't read Max Monroe before then jump on in! If you have, be prepared and open to a darker Max Monroe. Their humor is still present in this book-but this isn't the RomCom you may be expecting from them. There's definitely angst in book-which I normally am not a huge fan of-but it works here and I'm fascinated as to what will happen next. I loved this book and can't wait for the next installment.

I haven't read all of this author's titles. I know they lean toward the more lighthearted rom-com, and that is ok...but I am not really that drawn to those. I do enjoy them occasionally, but the other titles I have read by this author tend to be on the more off-the-wall angle of the rom-com trope, and I don't usually connect with those. Nothing wrong with them, nothing at all, but I like the darker stories.

That said, I read the last title by this author (well, duo of authors) and really enjoyed it. And, when I saw the details for this one appear, I admit, I was interested.

And, I am so glad I read this one. It's darker than the other books I have read, and darker, I think, than a lot of their fans will be expecting. But, that is a good thing. And, I love it when authors take a step out of their comfort zones (especially when they have been very successful there) and allow themselves to tell a different story.

Especially when the story they tell works this well. There's so much depth, so much intensity, so much hurt, anger and raw emotion in this story that you are immediately drawn in.

Levi and Ivy do not like one another. Let me repeat, they do not like one another. And, as this is a 3 book trilogy story, this dislike is allowed to breathe, and it is allowed to become something tangible. This makes their attraction more interesting, the time they spend together more intense, and the moments where they feel for one another (during table reads, and disastrous moments on set) jump out even more strongly as they, genuinely, do not like one another.

Until they do. Ivy figures it out way before Levi does, she realizes that there just might be something there. He fights it, he doesn't want to feel anything for the actress bringing to life one of the most painful parts of his past. So he fights it, and her, and his attraction to her...and in this fight, he does some things that end up being incredibly cruel in the light of day...and making the attraction Ivy has for him into something else that is dead and in his past.

But, in this case, he can fix this...and, we will all have to wait until book 2 to see if he manages. Although, I am guessing it is going to be book 3 before they totally sort this out and get the Happily Ever After they deserve...but, no matter how many books this takes, I am along for the ride.